'Moral objection' bill provides out for doctors, questions for patients

Legislation headed to the Michigan House could allow doctors to refuse care to patients because of "moral objections."

Senate Bill 975 passed the Senate last week along partisan lines with Republicans supporting the bill and Democrats opposing it.

Michigan has allowed doctors to opt out of performing abortions as conscientious objectors for more than 30 years. However, organizations such as Right to Life are backing SB 975 as a way to extend those objections to any health care research or procedure.

Supporters argue physicians should have to right to object as a freedom of religion.

"One of America's founding principles is religious liberty, rooted in the belief that the government does not have the power to infringe upon your religious convictions," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, in a statement following the passage. "This legislation is about protecting constitutional religious rights in Michigan by ensuring that Michigan families and health care providers are not forced to perform an act or buy a product that is against their personal religious beliefs."

Following the passage, the Michigan Catholic Conference applauded the legislation for upholding the deep religious convictions.

"Senate Bill 975 strikes an appropriate balance between ensuring religious liberty right for health care providers and flexibility for employers to meet their health care needs," said Tom Hickson, vice president for public policy for the Michigan Catholic Conference.

While the legislation provides a way for doctors to refuse treatment because of moral objections, patients seeking emergency procedures would still be cared for under current Michigan law.

The bill is moving quickly through lame duck session. It was first introduced back in February 2012 and only started moving forward Dec. 4, largely ignored by the public as major protests surround the right-to-work issue in the state.

However, the legislation has firm opponents, including many hospitals.

"As one of the state's largest private-sector employer(s), the MHA and Michigan hospitals oppose the bill because it would create impediments to appropriate patient care and establish new provisions in employment laws that are cumbersome and prone to litigation," said Chris Mitchell, MHA government relations director.

Lyn Jenks, Charlevoix Area Hospital CEO, said her hospital is in lockstep with the Michigan Hospital Association in opposing SB 975.

Represenatives for McLaren Northern Michigan were not available for comment.

Broad language in the bill have Democrats concerned about how far beyond abortion-related care "moral objections" could extend.

Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, questioned on the Senate floor whether women would be treated if no female doctors were on hand and said she had "grave concerns" about how the bill would be implemented.

"Some religions don't believe in blood transfusions," Warren said.

"If you have a health care condition where you need a blood transfusion and you have no one on staff who is willing to give that to you, where do you stand? Some religions are opposed to giving treatment to folks with HIV/AIDS. Although there was the thought raised that whole groups of people might not be able to be discriminated against, one person at a time could certainly be discriminated against."

Planned Parenthood Michigan believes the bill is just one of a range of health care reform bills being rushed through the lame duck session without the public's knowledge.

"When people go to a hospital or go for counseling, they expect comprehensive care," said Meghan Groen, government relations director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan. "We can't start carving out different procedures and counseling. I don't think the majority of people in Michigan would have any desire for this to go through. I think the broad amount of opposition -- the medical community, universities and the public -- sees with this legislation should really send a message with the Legislature that there are some big, big concerns."